popular services

Southeast Lawn Care Guide

REQUEST A CUSTOM QUOTE

By providing TruGreen with my cell phone number, I agree that TruGreen may contact me on that number using an automated telephone dialing system or prerecorded or artificial voice to discuss my account, including current and possible future services provided by TruGreen, customer service and billing. I understand that providing my cell phone number is not required to purchase TruGreen services and that I may revoke this permission at any time.

There are plenty of reasons a healthy lawn is an asset to your home. A lush lawn can cool the surrounding area and serve as a buffer from the noises of the city. It also helps boost air quality by trapping dust and other irritating particles. And perhaps best of all, a beautiful lawn will make your home the envy of the neighborhood!

If you live in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi or Tennessee, sometimes keeping your lawn healthy and happy can be tough. Extreme temperatures, heavy foot traffic, soil and drainage problems, and adverse weather are just a few things that can impact your lawn’s health. Don’t forget about the insects and lawn diseases that can make matters even worse.

Lawn care can be tough, but you don’t have to panic. With TruGreen, you’ll find effective solutions to the problems that plague your lawn. Below you’ll find an extensive guide to help you learn what to expect from your Southeastern lawn each season. We’ve included suggested treatment for common problems, so keep an eye out for issues that match your lawn’s condition.

Types of Southeast grass

Do you know what grass is growing in your yard? Common grasses found in Southeastern lawns include Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, Tall fescue, and Zoysia; each comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Bahia

Pros

Coarse-textured, tough turf

Good tolerance to shade, drought, and wear

Cons

Produces numerous seedheads

Bermuda

Pros

Dense, medium-fine texture

Excellent heat and drought tolerance

Rapid establishment and growth rate

Cons

Poor low temperature and shade tolerance

Becomes dormant and browns during winter months

Centipede

Pros

Low-growing, medium-textured turf

Can handle light shade

Drought-tolerant

Cons

Slow growing (but this could be a pro if you don’t like mowing often!)

Poor wear tolerance

Browns in winter

Requires high iron levels

St. Augustine

Pros

Coarse-textured turf

Shade-tolerant

Cons

Poor low-temperature tolerance

Can enter dormancy and discolor in winter months

Produces heavy thatch

Tall fescue

Pros

Will grow in either partial shade or sun

Tolerant of drought and blazing summers

Cons

Not compatible with other turfgrasses

Prone to thinning

Zoysia

Pros

Dense, tough turf

Good heat and drought tolerance

Better cold tolerance than most warm-season grasses

Cons

Slow to establish

Becomes dormant and browns during winter months

Once you know your grass type, it becomes much easier to gauge the best watering technique and optimum mowing height for your lawn. Need help identifying the type of grass in your lawn? Our expert TruGreen specialists can provide you with helpful insights during a Healthy Lawn Analysis.

Unfortunately, even the healthiest lawn requires both preventative and reactionary efforts. Below, we explore potential weeds, lawn diseases and pests that can invade your lawn. Keep these in mind as you work with a TruGreen specialist to evaluate your lawn’s needs.

Types of weeds in the Southeast

Nutsedge

There are two types of nutsedge: purple and yellow. Both are grass-like perennials that spread across your lawn using a complex underground system of tubers or “nuts” that allow new weeds to sprout. This hidden reserve of tubers make the weed quite difficult to manage.

You can spot this troublesome weed by looking for a triangular stem and three rows of leaves.

Clover

Clover is a notorious creeping, broadleaf weed that’s tough to get rid of once its settled into your lawn. These perennials can take over large patches of turfgrass.

Clover is typically pretty easy to spot.The two most common types of clover, red and white, have flowers that stand out in turfgrass.

Black Medic

Black medic is an annual broadleaf weed that typically appears during the summer. Some of its most notable characteristics include globe-like clusters of yellow flowers and a small stem with three leaflets.

Dallisgrass

These coarse-textured grassy weed will spread across your lawn in circular clumps, growing out from the center and depriving your turfgrass of the air and nutrients necessary for survival.

Keep an eye out for its yellow-green color. You can also identify dallisgrass by its stems, which often have three to six spiky seedheads.

Spurge

The spurge family includes fast-growing summer weeds that grow low to the ground. Spurge is known as a prolific seed producer and plants mature in just a few days during hot weather.

Barnyardgrass

Flat and fan-shaped, barnyardgrass is an annual weed that has aggressive growth habits. It will steal the nutrients from your turfgrass and quickly dominate your lawn. Its bristly, purple seedhead is a dead giveaway that barnyardgrass is living in your backyard.

Annual bluegrass

Annual bluegrass is tricky. It almost looks like Kentucky bluegrass, but will quickly start to stand out due to its lighter green color and numerous seedheads. Annual bluegrass grows in patches. If faced with hot, dry conditions, it will brown out and leave big empty spaces on your lawn.

Don’t let common weeds get the best of your lawn. TruGreen’s TruComplete Lawn Plan, which includes pre-emergent and targeted weed control, can help develop a plan specific to your lawn.

Common lawn diseases in the Southeast

These lawn diseases can be pretty serious, but they shouldn’t stand in the way of a healthy lawn. To ensure your lawn has everything it needs to battle disease, consider TruGreen’s TruHealth Lawn Plan.

Common lawn pests in the Southeast

If you spot one of these creepy crawlers in your yard, don’t panic. TruGreen’s TruShield Lawn Pest Control can help significantly reduce the number of pests on your turf. If mosquitos are a problem, you can turn to TruGreen Mosquito Defense. This added layer of protection can help eradicate biting mosquitoes from your property.

How to care for your Southeastern lawn each season

Your lawn’s needs are constantly changing. From month to month and season to season, we have tips for you to get the most out of your lawn and TruGreen service.

While your TruGreen specialist will help your lawn stay healthy, there are ways you can care for your lawn as a homeowner to keep a lush, healthy yard.

Summer

With warm temperate, grass will grow quickly. Mow regularly to stay on top of rapid growth.

Mow at the recommended height for your grass type to avoid injury to your turf.

Aim to provide your lawn with two inches of water per week. If it rains, adjust accordingly.

Aerating in August may help with summer stress from high temperatures. Ask your specialist about TruGreen’s aeration services.

Fall

When temperatures cool, most grass types in the Southeast will show signs of slower growth and may lose their green color. Tall fescue is an exception, retaining its color all through the winter.

As your lawn starts to go dormant, raise your mowing height half an inch. If you have a tall fescue lawn, don’t raise the mowing height.

Once the leaf fall becomes heavy, rake and clean up the leaves. This will allow for a speedier green-up in the spring.

Time to service your lawn mower! If you haven’t cleaned your mower since the summer season, give it a good scrub and rinse before you put it away for the winter. We have a step-by-step video below to help you out!

Winter

Winterize your sprinkler system and check for leaks.

Tune up your lawn mower and sharpen the blade in preparation for lawn care season.

In dry weather, water your lawn for about 15 minutes once a week and after TruGreen treatments.

Spring

In late March, reduce mowing height to remove brown stems and encourage healthy new growth.

During late spring, start to mow regularly and frequently. Just make sure to cut only 1/3 of the grass blade at a time.

Water each zone with about an inch per week in the absence of rainfall. Wondering what an inch of water looks like? Check out our watering tips video below!

Let’s work together for healthy turf, all year-round

The Southeast’s unique grasses and weather mean your lawn needs special care. TruGreen will help you throughout the year, applying seasonally appropriate pre- and post-emergent weed treatments. TruGreen’s fertilizer treatments will help stimulate your lawn’s color and growth and to fortify it against extreme weather.

As your partner in the journey toward a healthy lawn, we ask that you receive regular service visits. Following the homeowner tips in this guide will also to help you achieve the best results possible.

*$29.95 First Application: Requires purchase of annual plan. Special price of $29.95 is for first application only, for new residential EasyPay or PrePay customers only, and applies to lawns up to 5,000 square feet. For lawns more than 5,000 square feet or for the regular lawn application price for a lawn of any size, please call for estimate. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Consumer responsible for all sales tax.

◆Guarantee applies to full plan customers only. ✦Purchase of full lawn plan required for Healthy Lawn Analysis, which is performed at the first visit.

✢ Special price is for first tree and shrub application only and for new tree and shrub residential customers only. The special price applies to installed plant material and shrubs and excludes mature, native and specialty trees such as fruit or certain ornamentals. Application includes up to 5 trees, no more than 25 ft. in height. For the regular tree and shrub application price, please call for an estimate. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount for the same service. Consumer responsible for all sales tax.

★★ Requires purchase of full mosquito plan. Special price of $39.95 is for first mosquito application only, for new EasyPay or PrePay residential customers only, and applies to properties up to 1 acre. For properties more than 1 acre, please call for estimate. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Consumer responsible for all sales tax. ✧ Guarantee applies to full plan customers only.

America’s #1 lawn care company based on U.S. market share of professional lawn care companies. 2017 NorthStar Partners U.S. Share Tracker. The PGA name, logos, and marks are a trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America. BBB accredited since 7/01/2012.